Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns aggressive behavior from Trump campaign manager
Donald Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was charged this morning with battery after an incident with journalist Michelle Fields at an event in Florida earlier this month. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reiterates its concerns about harsh and agressive treatment of the press during the US presidential election.
This is the latest incident where Donald Trump and his campaign have made clear his disregard for freedom of the press. Previously, Donald Trump’s team has restricted media access to campaign events, he has insulted and bullied reporters who portray him negatively or ask him tough questions, and refused to participate in a republican debate because FoxNews refused to remove its reporter Megyn Kelly as a moderator.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for all candidates in the US presidential election to respect freedom of the press and cease harsh and aggressive treatment of reporters at campaign events. “We condemn this aggressive behavior from Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski,” said Delphine Halgand, RSF USA’s Director.
Corey Lewandowski, campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has been charged with simple battery following an altercation with journalist Michelle Fields on March 8, 2016. He self-surrendered to Florida police this morning. According to the police report, Lewandowski "grabbed [journalist] [Michelle] Fields' left arm with his right hand causing her to turn and step back." Michelle Fields, a journalist working at the time for conservative news outlet Breitbart, has shared images online of her bruised arm where she said Lewandowski grabbed her forcefully. She later said “campaign managers aren’t supposed to try to forcefully throw reporters to the ground, no matter the circumstance.”
Trump’s actions during the run up to the 2016 presidential election mark an alarming trend of curtailing freedom of the press in the United States. Since 2013, the U.S.’s ranking on Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index has fallen by 14 points. It is now ranked 49 out of 180 countries.
